We just do not celebrate doing things slowly in our culture. The most common response I hear from people when asked “how are you” is “busy!” Is that how you feel? Is “busy” a GOOD feeling?
For me, it sort of depends. When I’m busy because I’m stimulated by my work and so absorbed that it is difficult to tear myself away to take care of other necessities and commitments, busy can be good… busy in that case is life forcing me into more balance. When the busy is running or being pulled in lots of different directions, with no clear focus or sense that I am steering the ship towards the larger goals and directions I most value, busy is not a happy feeling for me.
Coming off of the adjustment to back to school, a month of Jewish holidays wreaking havoc with our calendar, and discovering in the last few weeks that my family is going to be moving to a new home very soon, busy has been in my mind more than I like in recent days. I have been saying to myself that even finding time to write these posts is difficult.
And yet, when I am truly honest with myself, it is not the TIME that is the challenge. It is the SLOWING DOWN I have to do to allow my mind to clear, to settle. I know it is healthy and important to take time to reflect on how I am feeling and how I am responding to what is going on in my life. This does not come easily to me when I am feeling frazzled and stretched. But here I am doing it, and of course I am already feeling calmer and more in control. Spending this settled time in introspection leaves me feeling more powerful, more aware of the happiness I feel about my choices, and at least a little recharged to get out there and keep making it all happen.
At Just Say Glow, we are huge believers in the value of feeling AT CAUSE in what we are doing in our lives. It’s not easy to always keep this in mind. When we slow down and reflect a little on what we are really up to, we feel re-connected to why we choose and live as we do. And we really appreciate having this tool in our self-care toolkit!
What do you do to help manage when life gets particularly busy? How does BUSY show up for you, positively or negatively? And, how do you feel if someone suggests you slow down?
Tweet
